Improvement in the construction of signs



gleiten ,gisten @anni @fitta l GEORGE H. KITCHEN, QF NEW YORK, N. VY.

' Letters Patent No. 65,817, dated June 18, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SIGNS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

v Re it known that I, GEORGE `H. KITCHEN, of the city and State of NewYork, have invented and made a certain new and useful Improvement inPrismatic Illuminators; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the said invention, referencebeing had to the annexed'drawing, nia-king part of this specification,xvlierein- Figure l is an elevation of one end of a prisniaticilluminator, representing the letter I or number 1; and

Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same at line xx, iig. l.

Similar letters denote the saine parts. i

Prismatic illuminators have heretofore been made in the ferm of globesand figures made of a series of prisms attached together upon a frame ofwire. This construction is very costly, because the whole illuminator ismade of prisms, and besides this there is no definite outline to theilluminator; hence the same could only be employed as a sign containingletters or numbers, in consequence of differences in the colors of theglass prisms. u

These in the day-time formed very indistinct signs except by transmittedlight, and it is seldom that a sign can he placed so that the lightshines through it to the observer; and at night, said signs, whenilluminated by a. gas or other light contained within, are not boldordistinct, and cannot be clearly discerned at a distance, on account ofthe blending of the reflected prismatie rays of light.

The nature of my` said invention lconsists in an illuminator formed ofan opaque easing, having openings through it of the size and shape ofthe figure, letter, or other character to be represented, said openingsbeing filled with a series of glass prisms connected together andsustained in their places, and the illuminator fitted so that light maybe employed behind it to illuminate the same at night. By thisconstruction the casing forms a contrast to fthe prisms, so that thesign can be easily seen by daylight, and at night the light only passesthrough the openings; hence the illuminated prisms make a handsome andattractive sign or emblem that can be seen with distinctnessA Besidesthis there are not as many prisms required as heretofore, and hence theoost-is lessened.

In the drawing, a represents the casing, adapted to enclose a space intowhieh any suitable light is to be introduced at night, and in thedrawing I have shown at 6 a gas pipe and burner. In the casing a form anopening or openings, c, of the desired size and shape, and I apply theglass prisms dal at said openings, and sustain them in ranges by iviresor otherwise. The casinga may be made of Wood, metal, o r other materialthat is opaque. This prismatic illuminator is a new and useful articleof manufacture.

What I ela-im, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is A prismaticilluminator formed of an opaque case with openings, to whichprisms nreapplied, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. i

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this sixth day ofDecember, A. D. 1866.

GEO. H. KITCHEN. Witnesses:

CnAs. H. SMITH, GEO.` D. WALKER.

